Best Buy faces boycott over leadership programs that exclude white employees

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Best Buy faces boycott over leadership programs that exclude white employees

Best Buy is facing a boycott over offering "leadership" programs that are only available to non-white employees, according to a report.

A whistleblower shared screenshots of an alleged internal Best Buy company memo regarding "management leadership academy programs" with the O’Keefe Media Group. The programs are a partnership between Best Buy and global management consultant McKinsey & Company.

The programs provide employees with "critical skills that will enhance their leadership through a mini-MBA style curriculum."

The leadership programs allegedly exclude white employees.

"We're excited to announce awesome news about the McKinsey professional development programs! As a part of Best Buy's commitment to develop and support our employees, we've partnered with McKinsey & Company to offer the McKinsey Leadership Programs," states the reported memo from Best Buy. "These professional development programs customize its curriculum and discussions to the unique situations, experiences and opportunities of diverse professionals."

One of the purported requirements to be considered for the leadership programs was that candidates must "identify as black, Latino, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander."

According to the online application for the leadership programs, two questions ask if applicants are black, Latino, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander to advance.

The O’Keefe Media Group shared alleged screenshots of the memo and the application on Twitter with the caption: "A citizen journalist has revealed Best Buy is partnering with McKinsey & Company on a Management Training Program. The program is not open to white applicants. 'Candidates must meet the [racial] requirements below.'"

The electronics company announced the diversity initiative on the Best Buy corporate website in July 2022. Best Buy said the leadership programs would help "establish a diverse workforce."

"As part of Best Buy’s commitment to develop and support our employees who identify as black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC), we’ve partnered with McKinsey & Company to offer the McKinsey Management Accelerator program," the Best Buy website reads.

"The McKinsey Management Accelerator program focuses on professional career development by customizing its curriculum and discussions to the unique situations, experiences and opportunities of BIPOC professionals," the site states.

"The McKinsey Accelerator Program has been a great challenge for my leadership skillset. Having other people of color in the program took away the facade I’ve always had to bear as a minority and allowed me to participate as a true student without having to worry about how I appear as a person of color in a space," said Joslyn Knight – Best Buy distribution operations support senior analyst.

Best Buy started utilizing the McKinsey Accelerator Program in 2020 with one course for black employees and has since expanded the program to include Hispanic, Latino, and Asian employees.

McKinsey & Company says on its website: "We are defined by our people and are deeply committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture."

"At McKinsey, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just moral imperatives, they are integral to our dual mission – to help our clients make substantial, lasting performance improvements and to build a firm that attracts, develops, excites, and retains exceptional people," the McKinsey & Company website states.

The consulting company also prioritizes climate change.

"A healthy society depends on a healthy planet, and climate change is putting both at risk. That’s why, in addition to serving clients and sharing insights, McKinsey has committed to achieving net-zero climate impact by 2030," the site says. "We're not alone on our journey to help build a more sustainable and inclusive future, and there will be challenges – but we all need to do more, together."

There were calls to boycott Best Buy on social media. One Twitter user declared, "It's time to Bud Light Best Buy."

Best Buy did not respond to a request for comment from TheStreet.

Best Buy faced controversy in 2021 when it offered "mental health resources" and "counseling services" to employees distressed over Kyle Rittenhouse being acquitted of all charges from the shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

"The verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial stirs many emotions, and it's another difficult moment for our nation," said Mark Irvin, the chief inclusion, diversity, and talent officer for Best Buy.

"While these events can be challenging and deeply hurtful, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on the values that unite us as a company and as a nation," Irvin continued. "We can do better, as each of us as individuals, allies, and human beings press together for better outcomes."

"I know events like these can take a toll on mental health and emotional well-being," Irwin claimed. "Please know that best Buy is here to support you."